There is an increasing and inevitable breakdown between the roles of healthcare professionals. Effective performance as a healthcare professional is no longer predicated on memorizing a body of facts but depends on being able to assimilate, evaluate and use new information. Clinical and communication skills are not the sole domain of the medical profession but are common to a range of healthcare professionals. Developing proper attitudes is a major goal of the education of all healthcare professionals. These considerations suggest that a new approach to the education of healthcare professionals, including doctors, is needed.